Ten largest contracts to defensive players in NFL free agency in 2021

With National Football League free agency now taking place, some of the most notable contracts have been signed by defensive players. Let’s take a look at the top 10 contracts of players whose job it is to prevent the opposing team from scoring.

10) Ronald Darby–A cornerback from Oxon Hill, Maryland, Darby signed a three-year deal worth $30 million with the Denver Broncos from the Washington Football Team. He has previously been with the Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles, winning a Super Bowl with the Eagles in 2018. Last season with Washington, Darby had 55 combined tackles, 16 pass deflections, one tackle for a loss, and one fumble recovery.

9) Dalvin Tomlinson–A defensive tackle from McDonough, Georgia, Tomlinson signed a two-year contract worth $22 million with the Minnesota Vikings from the New York Giants. A star while with the University of Alabama, Tomlinson had 49 combined tackles, 10 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss, four pass deflections, and 3.5 sacks with the Giants in 2020.

8) John Johnson–A safety from Hyattsville, Maryland, Johnson signed a four-year contract worth $33.75 million with the Cleveland Browns from the Los Angeles Rams. Last season in southern California, Johnson had 105 combined tackles, eight pass deflections, two tackles for a loss, and one interception.

7) Yannick Ngakoue–An outside linebacker from Washington, D.C., Ngakoue signed a two-year contract worth $26 million with the Las Vegas Raiders. In 2020, Ngakoue was traded from Minnesota to Baltimore during the season. He finished with 23 combined tackles, 11 quarterback hits, eight sacks, seven tackles for a loss, four forced fumbles, and one pass deflection. Prior to Ngakoue’s time in Minnesota in 2020, he spent four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2016 to 2019, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2017.

5) William Jackson–A cornerback from Houston, Texas, Jackson signed a three-year contract worth $42 million with the Washington Football Team from the Cincinnati Bengals. Last season in Cincy, Jackson had 45 combined tackles, 11 pass deflections, one interception, and one tackle for a loss. Jackson’s 38 solo tackles were a career-high.

5) Matthew Judon–A linebacker from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Judon was part of the wave signings this week by the New England Patriots after signing a four-year deal worth $56 million. The two-time Pro Bowler played the last two seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Judon had 50 combined tackles, 21 quarterback hits, nine tackles for a loss, one safety, six sacks, and two pass deflections in 2020. The safety was Judon’s first of his career, and came in a 40-14 Ravens win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on December 20, 2020.

2) Carl Lawson–A defensive end from Alpharetta, Georgia, Lawson signed a three-year deal worth $45 million with the New York Jets from the Cincinnati Bengals. In 2020, Lawson had 36 tackles, 32 quarterback hits, 5.5 sacks, four tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles. Lawson however has had a history with injuries. While with the Bengals and with the University of Auburn, Lawson tore his ACL.

2) Shaquill Griffin–A cornerback from St. Petersburg, Florida, Griffin signed a three-year contract worth $45 million with the Jacksonville Jaguars from the Seattle Seahawks. Griffin returns to his home state of Florida where he played college football at the University of Central Florida. In 12 games in 2020, Griffin had three interceptions for 20 yards, 63 combined tackles, two tackles for a loss, and 12 pass deflections. Shaquill Griffin is also the twin brother of Shaquem Griffin, who plays for the Seahawks even though he does not have a left hand.

2) Trey Hendrickson–A defensive end from Orlando, Florida, Hendrickson signed a four-year contract worth $60 million with the Cincinnati Bengals from the New Orleans Saints. A first-team All-Pro in 2020, Hendrickson had 13.5 sacks last season, tied for second most in the entire NFL. He was tied with Aaron Donald last season, and only 1.5 fewer sacks than T.J. Watt of the Pittsburgh Steelers, who led the NFL with 15 sacks. Hendrickson also had 25 combined tackles, 25 quarterback hits, 12 tackles for a loss, one pass deflection, and one forced fumble.

1)Bud Dupree–An outside linebacker from Macon, Georgia, Dupree had played his entire NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He signed a three-year deal worth $49.5 million with the Tennessee Titans. This past season Dupree played 11 games before tearing his ACL. He had 31 combined tackles, 15 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss, eight sacks, two pass deflections and two forced fumbles.

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